Method of assembling dispensing containers



Feb. 25, 1959 CHAMBERLIN 3,429,026

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING DISPENSING CONTAINERS Sheet Filed May 5, 1966 ALFRED H. CHAMBERLIN ATTORNEYS flail, 04%, M2

1969 A. H. CHAMBERLIN METHOD OF ASSEMBLING DISPENSING CONTAINERS Z of 2 Sheet Filed May 3, 1966 Fw NN mm k INVENTOR ALFRED H. CHAMBERLIN United States Patent 3,429,026 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING DISPENSING CONTAINERS Alfred H. Chamberlin, Eimhurst, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 3, 1966, Ser. No. 547,240

US. Cl. 29421 12 Claims Int. Cl. 323p 11/02, 19/04; B65d 23/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for assembling a flexible product-dispensing bag and a dispensing container body by positioning the bag within the body, thereafter inserting a conduit into the bag neck, and introducing air through the conduit into the bag to increase the axial length thereof whereby the neck of the bag passes through and interlocks with the opening of the dispensing container body.

Heretofore it has been conventional to assemble components of dispensing and other containers in various different ways, most of which have found acceptance in the can making industry. However, one major problem of assembling container components is peculiar to dispensing containers i.e., the manner in which an inner collapsible bag which is adapted to receive a dispensable product is assembled with an outer and generally metallic container body. Such inner bags are generally constructed from relatively flexible thin elastomeric material and therefore have little rigidity or body. Such bags may be readily inserted through the closure opening into the interior of the container body, secured in place by a valve cap in a conventional manner, and thereafter trimmed. However, if the inner bag is short in height and is accidentally released during the insertion thereof into the container the entire bag will fall completely into the interior of the container body. The entire assembly would then have to be discarded or excessive product time would be lost while the interior of the container was probed to grasp the neck of the inner bag for subsequent withdrawal through the closure opening to resume the assembling operation.

In accordance with the above, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for assembling a dispensing body container and an inner flexible bag which overcomes the above and numerous other disadvantages of conventional methods, and is characterized by introducing a fluid medium into the interior of the inner bag after the latter has been housed in a container body whereupon the axial length of the bag is increased and a portion of the bag neck is permitted to pass through an opening of an end closure of the container body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for assembling a container body and a flexible inner bag wherein the inner bag neck is guided through the closure opening during the passage thereof through the closure to assure correct alignment between the components during the assembling operation.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a highly schematic front view with parts broken away for clarity of an apparatus for performing ice the method of this invention, and illustrates a plurality to nozzles which are inserted into and retracted from inner bags of dispensers during the assembly thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, and illustrates selected ones of the nozzles in the projected and retracted positions thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with parts shown in elevation of one of the nozzles of FIGURE 2, and illustrates the nozzle positioned in axial alignment with an inner bag of a dispenser.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partially in side elevation of the nozzle and dispenser of FIGURE 3, and illustrates the nozzle inserted into the inner bag and the assembled position of the inner bag and the container body.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention for assembling components of dispensing containers is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an in-feed chute 11 defined by a pair of guide rails 12, 13 and a timing screw 14. The timing screw 14 is journalled between a flange (unnumbered) of the guide rail 13 and a flange (unnumbered) of a generally arcuate guide rail 15 terminating at a discharge end 16 of the apparatus 10. The timing screw 14 is driven by conventional means (not shown) to deliver partially assembled dispensing containers, generally designated by the reference character C, to semi-circular pockets 17, 18 (FIGURE 2) of a turret mechanism 20.

The turret mechanism 20 includes a pair of plates 21, 22 which are welded or othrwise conventionally secured to a collar (not shown) rotatably fixed to a shaft 23. The pockets 17 are formed in the plate 21 while the pockets 18 are formed in the plate 22 in axial alignment with the pockets 17. Another plate 24 includes a hub 25 which is similarly fixed to the shaft 23. The plate 24 carries a plurality of backup plates 26 which have generally curved end faces 27 (FIGURES 3 and 4). Each backup plate 26 is in axial alignment with an associated one of the pockets 17 and 18 of the respective plates 21, 22, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

The shaft 23 includes an end portion 28 (FIGURE 2) mounted for rotation in a journal 30 which is fixed to the upper end portions (unnumbered) of a pair of downwardly diverging legs 31, 32. An opposite end portion (unnumbered) of the shaft 23 is similarly journalled for rotation in a conventional journal box 33 fixed to an upstanding support plate 34. A pulley 35 is keyed or otherwise conventionally secured to the end portion 28 of the shaft 23. A pulley belt 36 is entrained about the pulley 35 and a drive pulley 37 fixed to a shaft 38 of a conventional electric .motor 40. The motor 40 is energized by a conventional source of electrical energy to rotate the shaft 38, the pulley 37, the pulley belt 36 and the pulley 35 to rotate the shaft 23 and the turret mechanism 20 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

A nozzle assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 45, is also fixed to the shaft 23 and rotates therewith. The nozzle assembly 45 includes a pair of plates 46, 47 fixed to a hub 48 which is keyed or otherwise conventionally secured to the shaft 23. An end portion 50 (FIGURE 2) of the hub 48 is enlarged and receives an annular boss 51 of an element 49 which is welded or otherwise conventionally secured to the plate 34. The enlarged portion 50 of the hub 48 is provided with a plurality of identical equally peripherally spaced fitments 59 which are selectively placed into fluid communication with an arcuate chamber 52 formed in the interior face (unnumbered) of the boss 51. A port 53 (FIGURE 1) places the chamber 52 in continuous fluid communication with a continuous circumferential groove or slot 54 formed in the exterior surface of the shaft 23. A port 55 places the slot 54 in continuous fluid communication with a bore 56 in the shaft 23. The bore 56 is placed in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, such as compressed air, by means of a conventional rotatable union 60 and a conduit 61. The function of the various ports, bores, chambers, etc. will be more apparent hereafter.

The nozzle assembly 45 includes a plurality of identi cal nozzle carriers, each being designated by the reference numeral 65. Each nozzle carrier 65 includes an identical mounting plate 66 (FIGURES 3 and 4) welded between the plates 46, 47, Each mounting plate 66 includes a guideway 67 defined by opposed flanges 68, 70 (FIGURE 1). Each of a plurality of nozzle bodies 71 is guidably mounted in an associated one of the guideways 67 of the mounting plates 66 by means of a generally dovetail-shaped flange 72 confiningly received between the flanges 68, 70, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The guideway 67 and flange 72 of each nozzle carrier 65 permits the same to be moved toward and away from the pockets 17, 18 and the pre-assembled components C carried thereby in a manner to be more fully described hereafter.

Each nozzle body 71 is provided with a bore 73 which is threaded at opposite ends thereof. A tubular threaded fitment 74 is threadably secured to one end portion of each bore while a tubular nozzle 75 having a rounded end portion 76 is threaded to the opposite end portion of each of the bores 73. A flexible hose or conduit 77 is secured to each fitment 74 and to each of the filaments 59 carried by the enlarged portion 50 of the collar 48.

A freely rotatable carn follower roller 80 (FIGURES 3 and 4) is carried by each of the nozzle bodies 71. Each cam follower roller 80 is rotatably mounted in a conventional manner upon a stem 81 which includes a threaded end portion 82 threadably secured in a threaded bore (unnumbered) of each of the nozzle bodies 71.

Each roller 80 is confined in and guided by a cam track 84 of a cam member, generally designated by the reference numeral 85. The cam member 85 is of a continuous annular construction and completely surrounds the nozzle assembly 45. The cam member 85 is secured to the plate 34 by a plurality of brackets 86, 87, etc. The cam member 85 includes a major arcuate portion 88 which is closely adjacent and parallel to the plate 34 and a minor arcuate portion 90 which is also parallel to the plate 34 but is spaced further therefrom, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The parallel portions 88, 90 are also diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings by the respective doubleheaded arrows 88, 90. The cam member 85 also includes an arcuate portion 91 (FIGURES 1 and 2) between the portions 88, 90. The arcuate portion 91 slopes in a direction from the portion 90 toward the portion 88, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The circumferential extent of the arcuate portion 91 is indicated by the double-headed arrow associated therewith in FIG- URE 1 of the drawings. 7

Another arcuate portion 92 (FIGURE 1) of the cam member 85 slopes axially away from the cam portion 88 toward the cam portion 90. The circumferential extent or length of the cam portion 92 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 by the double-headed arrow associated with the reference numeral 92. The cam member 85 and the various portions 88, 90, 91 and 92 thereof cooperate with the nozzle assembly 45 to reciprocate the nozzle bodies 71 relative to the pre-assembled containers C in a manner which will be described fully hereafter.

Guide means 95 (FIGURES l and 2) in the form of a generally arcuate plate is conventionally supported by means (not shown) between the plates 22, 46 of the turret mechanism 20 and the nozzle assembly 45, respectively. An end portion 96- of the guide means adjacent the timing screw 44 is offset, as is best illustrated in FIG- URE 2 of the drawings, while an opposite end portion 96 of the guide means 95 terminates adjacent the discharge end 16 of the apparatus 10'. The purpose of the guide means 95 is to seat each of the pre-assembled components C against the backing plate 26 carried by the plate 24, as will be apparent immediately hereafter.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, each of the pre-assembled dispensing containers C includes a generally tubular metallic container body 100 closed at opposite end portions (unnumbered) by closures 101, 102. The bottom closure 102 is of a conventional recessed construction and is secured to the container body 100 by a conventional double-seam 103. The upper closure 101 terminates in a curl 104 defining an opening 105 of the upper closure which is of a conventional dome or cone configuration, The closure 101 is secured to the container body 100 by a conventional double seam 106. While the closures 101, 102 have been described as being secured to the container body 100 by respective double seams 106, 103, it is to be understood that either of the closures 101, 102 can be integral portions of container body 100. For example, a blank of aluminum or similar relatively ductile material can be conventionally impacted, extruded to form a one-piece container and bottom closure to which may be thereafter double seamed the closure 101.

An inner bag or container is housed substantially entirely within the container C. The bag 110 is constructed of relatively flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene, and is provided with a plurality of beads 111 to facilitate the collapsing of the bag 110 during a conventional dispensing operation. The bag 110 is preferably constructed by a conventional blow-molding operation, and though collapsible during a dispensing operation is self supporting and maintains the configuration thereof illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. The bag 110 includes a closed bottom 112 and an upper end portion 113 terminating in a neck, generally designated by the reference numeral 114. The neck 114 includes an annular outwardly opening bead 115 and an enlarged portion 116 in the form of an inwardly opening annular bead. A terminal end portion (unnumbered) of the neck 114 defines an opening or mouth 118 of the bag 110.

As each pre-assembled container C is fed to the pockets 17, 18 (FIGURE 1) adjacent the otfset end portion 96 of the guide means 95, the nozzle body 71 associated therewith is maintained in a retracted position (FIG- URE 3) by means of its cam 80 riding in the portion 88 of the cam member 85. Upon the continued counterclockwise rotation of the turrent mechanism 20 as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, each pre-assembled dispenser C approaches the offset portion 96 of the guide means 95. The offset portion 96 of the guide means 95 contacts the double seam 106 of each pre-assembled dispenser C and progressively urges the same from right-to left, as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, until the bottom closure 102 thereof seats against and is confined by one of the backing plates 26 (FIGURES 3 and 4). At this time and until the dispensers C are discharged at the end portion 16 of the apparatus 10, the guide 15 prevents the containers C from accidentally leaving the pockets 17, 18 of the turrent mechanism 20.

During the travel of each nozzle body 71 along the portion 92 of the cam member 85 the cam track 84 urges the associated cam roller follower and nozzle body 71 away from the plate 34 (FIGURE 2) toward the associated container C. During this movement the nozzle 75 is introduced through the opening 116 of the bag 110, as is diagrammatically illustrated by the solid and phantom outline positions in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. At

the time the cam roller 80 reaches the junction between the portions 92, 90 of the cam member 85 the nozzle 75 is in the fully extended position thereof (FIGURE 4). At the same time the cam 80 reaches the junction between the portions 92, 90 of the cam member 85, the fitment 59 connected by the associated hose 77 to the nozzle body 71 now received in the bag 110 is in fluid communication with the arcuate chamber 52 (FIGURES 1 and 2) of the collar or element 49. Air under pressure from the high pressure source (not shown) is conducted through the nozzle and into the interior of the container 110 over a flow path defined by the conduit 61, the rotatable union 60, the axial bore 56 in the shaft 23, the radial port 55, the circumferential groove 54 of the shaft 23, the port 53, the chamber 52, the fitment 59 in communication with the chamber 52, the associated hose 77 (FIGURE 3), the bore 73 and the passage (unnumbered) through the nozzle 75. As air is introduced into the interior of the bag 110 (FIGURE 4) the axial length of the bag is increased under the effect of the fluid pressure and the enlarged portion 116 of the neck 114 is momentarily constricted and forced through the opening 105 of the closure 101. The enlarged portion 116 rebounds to its initial configuration after passing through the opening 105 at which time the outwardly opening annular bead 115 confiningly seats and interlocks with the curl 104 of the closure 101, resulting in the complete assembly of the container C, as is illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawlngs.

It should be noted that the rounded nose 76 of the nozzle 75 facilitates the introduction of the nozzle 75 into the interior of the bag 110. In addition, the outer diameter of each of the nozzles 75 is slightly smaller (approximately .020 inch smaller) than the internal diameter of the neck opening 116. This loose fit between the opening 116 and the nozzle 75 permits some of the fluid introduced into the interior of the container 110 to escape and prevents pressure build up in the interior of the bag 110 which might otherwise deform the bag or cause the same to rupture. The loose fit between the opening 116 and the nozzle 75 also permits the neck 114 to freely slide along the nozzle 75 from the position of the neck il lustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings to the final assembled position shown in FIGURE 4.

The nozzle 75 is maintained in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 by the associated cam follower 80 cooperating with the cam track 84 along the portion 90 of the cam member 85. The cam follower 80 approaches the juncture between the portions 90, 91 of the cam member 85 at approximately the time fitment 59 associated therewith passes beyond the chamber 52 resulting in a cutoff of the air pressure substantially simultaneously with the retraction of each nozzle. Each nozzle is retracted as the cam follower roller 80 associated therewith travels in the cam track 84 along the portion 91 of the cam member 85. At the discharge end portion 16 each nozzle 75 is again in the fully retracted position (FIG- URE 3) and the assembled containers are free to be discharged and transported to other stations at which, for example, the portion of the neck projecting through the opening 105 is trimmed or sheared, as is indicated schematically in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

A conventional kick-off mechanism (not shown) is provided for unseating each container C from its associated backing plate just prior to the discharge thereof at the end portion 15. The kick-off mechanism can be, for example, an arcuate plate corresponding to the plate 95 having an offset which cooperates in a manner of the offset 96 except that the unillustrated offset would cooperate with the opposite side of the double seam 106 to shift the containers C from left-to-right as viewed in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

While a preferred method of assembling dispensing container bodies and inner collapsible bags has been heretofore described, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are considered to be a part of this invention. For example, it is within the scope of this invention to assemble the bag 110 and the container without first securing the bottom closure [02 thereto by the double seam 103. In this case, the lower end portion (unnumbered) of the container body 100 would include a conventional outwardly directed peripheral flange and the backing plates 26 would be correspondingly contoured to externally receive the open lower end portion. The bottom 112 of the bag would be directly backed up by the backing plate 26 during the assembling operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a dispensing container body of the type having a closure provided with an opening of a predetermined diameter and a flexible inner bag having a body terminating in a neck comprisng the steps of positioning the flexible inner bag in the container body with the neck thereof adjacent the closure opening, and increasing the axial length of the inner bag causing the neck portion thereof to pass through the opening.

2. The method of asembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the axial length of the inner bag is increased by introducing a fluid media into the interior of said bag.

3. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 including the step of guiding the neck during the passage of the neck portion through the closure opening.

4. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the axial length of the inner bag is increased by introducing a fluid media into the interior of the bag, and guiding the neck during the passage of the neck portion through the closure opening.

5. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the axial length of the inner bag is increased by introducing a fluid media into the interior of the bag through a tubular element positioned in the bag neck.

6. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 wherein a tubular element is telescopically introduced into the neck by axial relative movement therebetween, the axial length of the inner bag is increased by introducing a fluid media into the interior of the bag through the tubular element, and the tubular element is axially retracted after the bag and container body have been assembled.

7. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the neck includes a portion of a larger diameter than the diameter of the closure opening whereupon the axial increase in length of the bag causes the neck portion to constrict as it passes through the opening and thereafter rebounds to maintain the container body and bag in assembled relationship.

8. The method of assembling the container body and bag as defined in claim 2 wherein the neck includes a portion of a larger diameter than the diameter of the closure opening whereupon the axial increase in length of the bag causes the neck portion to constrict as it passes through the opening and thereafter rebounds to maintain the container body and bag in assembled relationship.

9. Apparatus for assembling a dispensing container body of the type having a closure provided with an opening of a predetermined diameter and a flexible inner bag having a body terminating in a neck comprising means for positioning the flexible inner bag in the container body with the neck thereof adjacent the closure opening, and means for increasing the axial length of the inner bag causing the neck portion thereof to pass through the openlng.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said axial length increasing means is defined by means for introducing a fluid media into the interior of said bag.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said fluid media introducing means further includes a guide 7 8 surface for cooperating with the interior of the bag neck References Cited for guiding the neck through the closure opening. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1-2. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means for conveying the inner bag and container body 2,366,359 1/1945 Seafle 29421 X along a predetermined path, and means for imparting 5 gi igg i ime a 4 relative movement between said inner bag and container body and said fluid media introducing means whereby the latter are moved transversely toward each other and the THOMAS EAGER Prlmary Examiner fluid media introducing means enters the inner bag neck. U 5 C1 X R 

